Bobbin tube loading apparatus

ABSTRACT

A carriage is provided which can be moved along a row of tube take-up pins on a ring spinning or ring twisting machine. The carriage has a tube transfer means which receives the bobbin tubes from a chute in a horizontal position and which moves each tube into a vertical position at a take-up position above a takeup pin. The movement of the transfer means is synchronized with the movement of the carriage along the machine and the pins to permit dropping of the tubes when the tubes are directly over the pins.

United States Patent [191 Hirschle et al.

[451 Sept. 30, 1975 BOBBIN TUBE LOADING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Wernerl-lirschle; Hans Rutz;

Arthur Wiirmli, all of Winterthur, Switzerland [73] Assignee: RieterMachine Works, Ltd.,

Winterthur, Switzerland [22] Filed: June 18, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:480,576

3,164,946 l/1965 DuBuis et al. 57/53 3,175,349 3/1965 Escursell-Prat57/53 3,321,896 5/1967 King, Jr. et al. 57/53 3,328,948 7/1967 DuBuis eta]. 57/53 3,398,520 8/1968 Chabot et a1. 57/53 Primary E.\'aminer 1ohnPetrakes Attorney, Agent, or FirmKenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [57 1 ABSTRACT A carriage is provided which can be moved along a row oftube take-up pins on a ring spinning or ring twisting machine. Thecarriage has a tube transfer means which receives the bobbin tubes froma chute in a horizontal position and which moves each tube into avertical position at a take-up position above a take-up pin. Themovement of the transfer means is synchronized with the movement of thecarriage along the machine and the pins to permit dropping of the tubeswhen the tubes are directly over the pins.

18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of43,908,348

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,908,348

U.S. Patent Sept 30,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,908,348

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,908,348

BOBBIN TUBE LOADING APPARATUS This invention relates to a bobbin tubeloading apparatus and particularly to a bobbin tube loading apparatusused in combination with a ring spinning machine or a ring twistingmachine.

As is known, the programming of the work on ring spinning or ringtwisting machines, particularly the doffing of full bobbins and thedonning of empty tubes, has led to two basically different systems. Onone hand, one system uses carriage doffers for doffing a larger numberof spinning or twisting machines and, on the other hand, the othersystem uses stationary or integral doffing devices.

The advantage of the known integral doffing device over the movablecarriage doffmg device resides in its relatively simple, reliable andlow-maintenance construction.

The disadvantage of the known construction, however, resides in that thesupplying of the empty tubes into a readiness position for the donningoperation, i.e. for gripping by the donning device, can not be performedby the doffing and donning device itself.

Heretofore, devices for supplying empty bobbin tubes to a readinessposition have been known in which a rotating conical member providedwith slots or pockets for taking up empty tubes is arranged in suchmanner that the empty tubes are taken over substantially in a horizontalposition and are transferred substantially in a vertical position to atransporting belt provided with take-up or holding pins. In thisarrangement, the axis of the conical member is contained in a planeextending parallel to the direction of movement of the transporting beltand is inclined under an angle of 45 with respect to the transportingbelt, i.e. the direction of movement of the circumference of the conicalmemher at the point where the tubes are given off is at right angles tothe direction of movement of the belt taking up the tubes. In addition,a stationary rail has been used to guide each tube at the lower end onlyuntil the tube is ready for depositing onto the transporting belt. Thetransporting belt extends along a spinning machine which is equippedwith an integral doffing device. The idle position of the beltrepresents the position of readiness mentioned above, from whichposition the empty tubes are taken over or gripped by the doffingdevice. In use, the device is stopped after the number of tubes neededhas been placed onto the transporting belt. These devices thus areprovided as stationary units for each row of spindles of a spinning ortwisting machine.

One of the disadvantages of a device of this type resides in that thedirection of motion of the tube on the conical member at the moment oftube transfer is at right angles to the direction of motion of thetransporting belt taking up the tube. As a result, the conical memberand the transporting belt must be stopped for each tube transfer, i.e.in such manner that the tube which is to be unobstructedly dropped fromthe guide rail has time to reach the pin located below. A furtherdisadvantage resides in that in order to ready the tubes for transfer tothe doffing and donning device by means of transporting belts, thecoordination of the positions of the pin taking up the empty tube on thetransporting belt and of the spindle to which the bobbin is to bedonned, needed for the transfer of the tubes to the doffing and donningdevice, is achieved with great difficulties. For example, any change inlength of the transporting belt caused by any influence biases thecoordination in such manner that disturbances can occur. Also, adisadvantage resides in that stationary units of this type are to beprovided for each spindle row of a spinning or twisting machine. Thiscomplicates the individual machine and makes the machine more expensive.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to create a bobbin tubeloading apparatus which, as a complementary device of the known doffingand donning devices integrated into a machine, brings empty tubesmechanically and semiautomatically into a position of readiness fromwhich position the doffing and donning device can grip the tubes fordonning to the spindles.

It is another object of the invention to provide a simple technique forloading bobbin tubes unto a tube take-up device of a ring twisting orspinning machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bobbin tube loadingapparatus which can be easily integrated with a ring twisting orspinning machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a high speed bobbintube loading apparatus.

Briefly, the invention provides a bobbin tube loading apparatus whichcan be used with a ring twisting machine or a ring spinning machinehaving an integral doffer and a take-up means including a row of tubetake-up pins. The loading apparatus includes a movable carriage, a chuteon the carriage for receiving a supply of bobbin tubes and a tubetransfer means on the carriage for moving the tubes from the chute to atransfer position above each respective pin of the machine. The tubetransfer means includes a horizontally disposed drum disposed under thechute, a vertically disposed drum disposed adjacent the transferposition, and an endless transporting chain guided about the drums fortaking up the tubes in a horizontal position from the chute and fortransporting the tubes into a vertical position at the transferposition. The chain includes a plurality of .links each of which has arecess for receiving a tube.

The loading apparatus also has a holding means for preventing the tubesfrom sliding down from the recesses during movement to the transferposition and for releasing the tubes from the recesses at the donningposition. In addition, a drive mechanism is provided for rotating thedrums to drive the chain as well as a means for synchronizing operationof the drive mechanism with movement of the carriage along apredetermined path alongside the row of take-up pins. This latter meansincludes a gear which is operably connected with the drums and which hasa tooth gauge corresponding to the gauge of the pins. The gear isdisposed in meshing engagement with the pins when the loading apparatusis brought to the machine so that upon movement of the loading apparatusalong the machine, the gear synchronizes the operation of the drums andchain with this movement to drop a series of the bobbin tubes on thetake-up pins.

The carriage of the loading apparatus is provided with suitable meanssuch as wheels which allow the carriage to move along the machine. Thesewheels can be mounted so that the front end of the carriage is biasedtoward the machine while the rear end is able to pivot relative to themachine. Additional guide rolls can also be provided to guide the frontend of the carriage horizontally and vertically along the machine.

The carriage is also constructed with a carriage frame on which thewheels are mounted and a support frame which is pivotally mounted on thecarriage frame and carries the tube transfer means and bobbin tubechute. The support frame is spring-supported on the carriage frame underthe influence of a pretensioned force so as to compensate for the weightof the chute and any empty bobbin tube reserve boxes in the chute- Theholding means can be formed as a part of the carriage or can be formedas part of the chain in order to hold the bobbin tubes in the chainuntil transfer is to take place.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a bobbin tube loading apparatusaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a top view of the lower part of thebobbin tube loading apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the bobbin tube loading apparatusaccording to FIG. 1 as seen in the direction designated I in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged top view of a portion of the transportingchain of the bobbin tube loading apparatus at the transfer position;

FIG. 5 illustrates a half-schematic side view of the apparatus at thetransfer position as seen in the direction designated II in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged top view of the gear of the bobbin tubeloading apparatus according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a drive mechanism for abobbin tube loading apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified embodiment of the transporting chain.

Referring to FIG. 1, a bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 consists of acarriage having a carriage frame 2 and a support frame 3, a tubetransfer means 4 and a tube reserve chute 5. The bobbin tube loadingapparatus 1 is pushed by means of a handle 6 provided on the supportframe 3 in the direction designated P by an operator (not shown). Thecarriage frame 2 has two fixed rolls 7 (one only shown each in FIGS. 1and 2) arranged at the front end as seen in the direction of movementand two rolls 8 (only being shown each in FIGS. 1 and 2) pivotallyarranged at the back end for rollably moving the carriage frame 2. Thepivotal rolls 8 can be pivoted, as needed, for changing the direction ofmovement. The support frame 3 is pivotably linked to the front end ofthe carriage frame 2 by a link pivotable about the link axis 10 (FIG.2).

The tube transfer means 4 consists of a drum 13 disposed horizontallyand supported by a shaft 12 in the support frame 3 and of a drum 15disposed vertically and supported by a shaft .14 also in the supportframe 3 as well as of a transporting chain 16 guided on these two drums13, 15. The transporting chain 16 consists of transporting links 17 eachprovided with a recess 17 for taking up of tubes 18 located in the tubereserve chute 5 and of connecting links 19 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 8,respectively) connecting the individual transporting links 17. The lowerend of the shaft 14 is provided with a gear 20 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 6) so asto be operably connected with the drums 13, 15.

The loading apparatus 1 is positioned to move along a predetermined pathalongside a ring spinning ma- The gear 20 of the loading apparatus 1 hasa tooth gauge Z, (FIG. 6) on the pitch circleof the radius R, (FIGS. 4,6 and 8) which corresponds to the spacing H of the tube take-up pins 21.In like manner, the chain.

link gauge K, corresponds to the pin spacing H (FIGS. 4 and 8). A handwheel 22 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is provided on the upper end of the shaft 14 toprovide a means for rotating the gear 20 and drums 13, 15. In this way,the apparatus 1 can be advanced along the machine 25 while the gear 20synchronizes the operation of the drums 13, 15 and chain 16 with themovement of the apparatus 1 to drop a series of tubes 18 onto the pins21.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tube reserve chute 5 is arranged above thehorizontal drum 13 and is connected with the support frame 3. The lengthand width of the chute 5 are chosen such that the tubes 18 in the chute5 substantially cover the upper half of the transporting chain 16surrounding the drum 13. This surrounding sector is designated U in FIG.1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a support member 23 is mounted on andattached to the support frame 3 to take up tube reserve boxes 24 and24'. As shown, the

lower face side of the tube reserve box 24 neighbors the tube supplychute 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, the side of the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1facing the spinning machine 25 is provided with a guide roll 26 on thesupport frame 3. This roll 26 has a circumferential recess 27 whichsurrounds a guide rail 28 attached to the spinning'machine 25 when asthe bobbin tube'loading apparatus 1 is brought into working position.The term working position of the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 isexplained later Referring to FIG. 2, the fixed rolls 7 attached to thecarriage frame 2 are arranged in such manner that they face the guiderail 28 under an angle a as the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 isbrought into working position. These rolls 7 thus give the bobbin tubeloading apparatus 1 a tendency to move towards the guide rail 28 as theapparatus 1 moves in. the direction of the movement P. This tendencycauses a guide element, such as a roll 29, provided on the side of thecarriage frame 2 facing the spinning machine. 25 to contact the guiderail 28 under slight pressure in such manner that the bobbin tubeloading apparatus 1 is definitely guided parallel to the spinningmachine 25.

Referring to FIG. 1, a knee-shaped link 11 is connected with one leg 30to the carriage frame 2 and with the other leg 31 to the support frame3. This link 11 is adapted to be opened in a vertical direction. As thelink 11 is opened, the support frame 3 is pivoted upward about the linkaxis 10. A pretensioned tension spring 32 which connects the link 11with the support frame 3 is progressively released as the link 11 isopened and, respectively, is progressively tensioned as the link 1 1closes. The pre-tension of the tension spring 32 is chosen such that thepart force given off by the link 11 acting upwards onto the supportframe 3, according to the movement, can be used to take up most of theload resulting from the support frame 3, the empty tube supply chute 5and the empty tube reserve boxes 24 and 24. Further use can be made ofthe link 11 under the influence of the tension spring 32 in combinationwith the pivotability of the support frame 3 and the carriage frame 2about the link axis insofar as any unevenness of the runway encounteredby the roll 8 is levelled out. In this way, any unevenness in the runwaydoes not act in the zone of the vertical drum 15 or of the tube transferpoint, i.e. the transfer position, upon the support frame 3 supported bythe roll 26. Any unevenness encountered by the fixed rolls 7 onlynegligeably influences the zone of the vertical drum 15. Thus, adisturbance-free tube transfer is ensured along the full length of thespinning machine 25.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a holding means in the form of a guide rail38 is provided on the support frame 3 to prevent the tubes 18 in thechain 16 from falling out of the links 17. The rail 38 extends under thechain 16 from a point (not shown) at which the tubes 18 might otherwiseslide down from the links 17 to a point adjacent the transfer position.The rail 38 allows release of the tubes 18 at the transfer position asshown in FIG. 5.

The bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in operationis pushed by an operator in the direction of movement P. An alternativeconstruction is shown in FIG. 7, in which a gear drive motor 33, viabevelled gears 34 and 35, drives the shaft 14 and thus the gear 20. Thisgear 20, in turn, upon meshing with the bobbin tube take up pins 21,moves the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 in the direction P.

Referring to FIG. 8, the transporting chain 41 may alternatively consistof transporting links 42 each of which is provided with a holding meanssuch as an elastic holding member 43 as well as connecting links 18.Each transporting link 42 is provided with a recess 44 for taking up atube 18.

In operation, the bobbin tube loading apparatus functions as follows.After the bobbin tube reserve boxes 24 and 24 filled with tubes 18 areplaced upon the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1, slides 36 and 37provided on the boxes 24 and 24, or, slides 36' provided on the box 24'are opened in such manner that the bobbin tubes 18 contained in theboxes 24, 24 can be transferred into the bobbin tube supply chute 5. Aslide 37' also provided on the rear of the bobbin tube reserve box 24'remains closed. For mutual exchangeability, the bobbin tube reserveboxes 24 and 24 are of identical construction. The bobbin tubes 18transferred into the bobbin tube supply chute 5 reach the transportingchain links 17 or the recesses 17 therein in the zone U (FIG. 1). As theoperator rotates the hand wheel 22 clockwise,

new transporting chain links 17 are filled with tubes 18 consecutively.The hand wheel 22 is rotated, or the gear drive motor 33 is activated,until the first chain link 17 containing a tube 18 has reached thevertical drum 15. Then, the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 is movedtowards the spinning machine 25 in such manner that the guide element 29contacts the guide rail 28. Subsequently, the guide roll 26 is liftedonto the guide rail 28 by the operator who slightly lifts the supportframe 3 for this purpose. At the same time, the gear meshes with thefirst bobbin take-up pin 21 (not shown separately) and thus is broughtinto working position. As the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 is pushedin the direction P (FIG. 1 the engaged gear 20 drives the drum 15 viathe shaft A and thus the transporting chain 16. Thus, a successivetransporting chain links 17 are filled with tubes 18 from the bobbintube supply chute 5. The lower ends of the tubes 18 are then moved alonga guide rail 38 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in order to prevent the tubes 18 in thetransporting chain links 17 from slipping down from the transportinglinks 17 as the tubes 18 are brought from the horizontal to the verticalpositions. This guide rail 38 ends shortly before the tube 18 reaches avertical position in such manner that the tube 18 sliding down over theend edge 39 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the guide rail 38 is placed onto thebobbin tube take-up pin 21 located below.

The downward motion of the tube 18 from the guide rail 38 onto thebobbin tube take-up in 21 is accelerated by a spring 40 (FIG. 5)connected to the support frame 3. The spring 40 is arranged above thetransporting chain 16 in such manner as to be pushed up by each tube 18as each tube 18 moves into an almost vertical position and thus istensioned. The spring 40 subsequently releases the accumulated force asthe tube 18, having reached a vertical position, moves downward towardsa pin 21.

If the transporting chain 41 (FIG. 8) is used, the guide rail 38 can beeliminated as the tube 18 is pressed against the recess 44 by theelastic holding member 43 while being transported from the horizontaldrum 13 to the vertical position. As the transporting chain 41 bendsaround the vertical drum 15, the transporting links 42 are opened insuch manner that the holding member 43 is lifted off the tube 18,whereupon the tube 18 drops down onto the bobbin tube take-up pin 21located below. The tube 18 placed onto the corresponding bobbin tubetake-up pin 21 at the moment of the tube transfer contacts the gear 20.However, as the bobbin tube loading apparatus 1 is pushed further alongthe machine, the tube 18 drops further until contacting the rail 21.

Furthermore, the use of the guide rail 38 is not limited to the exampleshown in FIG. 4, but its use in combination with the transporting chain41 according to FIG. 8 also is possible. In this case, the holdingmembers 43 merely prevent the tubes 18 from rolling out of the recesses44.

The invention thus provides a bobbin tube loading apparatus whichoperates on a simple and substantially disturbance-free principle. Inaddition, the speed of the tube at the tube transfer point or transferposition, i.e. as the vertical position is reached, is the same, but inthe opposite direction, as the speed of the bobbin tube loadingapparatus. The speed relationship is such that the absolute horizontalspeed of the tube is zero. As a result, precise placement of the tube ismade possible. Further, unevenness of the runway of the bobbin tubeloading apparatus does not influence the bobbin tube transfer.

The bobbin tube loading apparatus of the invention also possesses anadvantage in that as the tubes are taken over by the transporting chain,a certain vibrating effect is created in the bobbin tube supply chutewhich favorably influences the transfer of the tubes located in thebobbin tube supply chute and in the tube reserve boxes adjacent above.Further, the functions of the bobbin tube loading apparatus in operationcan easily be supervised visually. Also, the apparatus requirespractically no maintenance.

Still further, a plurality of spinning machines can be supplied with thesame bobbin tube loading apparatus.

Also, a high bobbin tube loading speed (about four bobbins per second)can be achieved. In addition, the apparatus has a manageable height ofconstruction, i.e. the bobbin tube reserve boxes are arranged at aheight favorable for the operator.

Once the tubes 18 have been placed on the take-up pins 21, an integraldonning and doffing device (not shown) on the machine 25 can then effectdonning of the tubes 18 onto the spindles (not shown) in a suitablyknown manner.

What is claimed is:

1. A bobbin tube loading apparatus comprising a movable carriage;

a chute on said carriage for receiving a supply of bobbin tubes;

tube transfer means mounted on said carriage for moving tubes from saidchute to a transfer position, said means including a horizontallydisposed drum disposed under said chute, a vertically disposed drumdisposed adjacent said transfer position, and an endless transportingchain guided about said drums for taking up the tubes in a horizontalposition from said chute and for transporting the tubes into a verticalposition at said transfer position, said chain including a plurality oflinks each having a recess for receiving a tube;

holding means for preventing the tubes from sliding down from saidrecesses during movement to said transfer position and for releasing thetubes from said recesses at said transfer position;

drive mechanism for rotating said drums to drive said chain; and

means for synchronizing operation of said drive mechanism with movementof said carriage along a predetermined path alongside a row of take-uppins on one of a ring spinning machine and a ring twisting machine.

2. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising at least one detachable bobbin tube reserve box for feedingbobbin tubes to said chute.

3. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidcarriage consists of a carriage frame and a support frame pivotableupwards and linked to said carriage frame.

4. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidsupport frame is pivotably connected to said carriage frame about a linkaxis arranged in a front part of said apparatus relative to thedirection of movement.

5. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidsupport frame is spring-supported on said carriage frame in a back partof said apparatus relative to the direction of movement.

6. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidcarriage frame includes two fixed rolls at a front end and withtwopivotably arranged rolls at a back end for rollably moving said carriageframe.

7. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidholding means includes a guide rail guiding the lower face side of thetubes, said guide rail extending from said horizontal drum along saidchain towards said vertical drum and terminating shortly before saidtransfer position.

8. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidholding means includes a plurality of holding members each attached to atransporting link, each said holding member being directed towards anadjacent transporting link to hold a tube located in said recess of saidtransporting link while the tube is transported from the horizontalposition until reaching said vertical position and to release the tubeupon reaching said vertical position at said transfer position.

9. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein saidholding member is an elastic member.

10. A bobbin tube holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whichfurther comprises means for accelerating the tube transfer at saidtransfer position.

11. A bobbin tube holding apparatus as set forth in claim 10 whereinsaid accelerating means is a spring on said carriage disposed in thepath of movement of the tubes in said chain to be tensioned by each tubetransported along under said spring until the tube reaches said verticalposition and to be released as the tube is transferred.

12. A bobbin tube holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidcarriage includes a handle for manual movement.

13. A bobbin tube holding apparatus asset, forth in claim 1 whichfurther comprises a drive means for moving said carriage.

14. A bobbin tube holding apparatus as set forth in claim 13 whereinsaid drive means is a gear motor positively engaged and driving saidvertical drum.

15. The combination of at least one of a ring spinning machine and aring twisting machine having an integral doffer and a take-up meansincluding a row of tube take-up pins, and a bobbin tube loadingapparatus for transferring tubes onto said pins;

said bobbin tube loading apparatus including a movable carriage;

a chute on said carriage for receiving a supply of bobbin tubes;

tube transfer means mounted. on said carriage for moving tubes from saidchute to a transfer position above each respective pin of said machine,said means including a horizontally disposed drum disposed under saidchute, a vertically disposed drum disposed adjacent said transferposition, and an.

endless transporting chain guided about said drums for taking up thetubes in a horizontal position from said chute and for transporting thetubes into a vertical position at said transfer position, said chainincluding a plurality of links each having a recess for receiving atube;

holding means for preventing the tubes from sliding down from saidrecesses during movement to said transfer position and for releasing thetubes from said recesses at said transfer position to drop over arespective one of said pins; and

a gear operably connected with said drums, said gear having a toothgauge corresponding to the spacing of said pins and being disposed inmeshing engagement with said pins whereby upon movement of saidapparatus along said machine, said gear synchronizes the operation ofsaid drums and :said chain with said movement to drop a series of thebobbin tubes onto said pins.

16. The combination as. set forth in claim 15 which.

further comprises a drive mechanism between said gear and at least oneof said drums for rotating said one drum upon rotation of said gear.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said carriage frameincludes two fixed rolls at said front end disposed at an angle morethan zero degrees and less than five degrees with said guide rail, andtwo pivotally arranged rolls at said back end for rollably moving saidcarriage frame.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPATENT NO. 3' 908! 348 DATED September 30, 1975 INV ENTOR(S) 1 WernerHirschle et al ltis ce tified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 14, change "in" to --pin-.

Column 8, line 3, change "on" to -an-.

Signcd and Scalcd this Twenty-ninth D3) of May 1979 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH MASON DONALD W. BANNER Attesting Oflicer Commissioner of Patentsand T rademrk';

1. A bobbin tube loading apparatus comprising a movable carriage; achute on said carriage for receiving a supply of bobbin tubes; tubetransfer means mounted on said carriage for moving tubes from said chuteto a transfer position, said means including a horizontally disposeddrum disposed under said chute, a vertically disposed drum disposedadjacent said transfer position, and an endless transporting chainguided about said drums for taking up the tubes in a horizontal positionfrom said chute and for transporting the tubes into a vertical positionat said transfer position, said chain including a plurality of linkseach having a recess for receiving a tube; holding means for preventingthe tubes from sliding down from said recesses during movement to saidtransfer position and for releasing the tubes from said recesses at saidtransfer position; drive mechanism for rotating said drums to drive saidchain; and means for synchronizing operation of said drive mechanismwith movement of said carriage along a predetermined path alongside arow of take-up pins on one of a ring spinning machine and a ringtwisting machine.
 2. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth inclaim 1 further comprising at least one detachable bobbin tube reservebox for feeding bobbin tubes to said chute.
 3. A bobbin tube loadingapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carriage consists of acarriage frame and a support frame pivotable upwards and linked to saidcarriage frame.
 4. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim3 wherein said support frame is pivotably connected to said carriageframe about a link axis arranged in a front part of said apparatusrelative to the direction of movement.
 5. A bobbin tube loadingapparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said support frame isspring-supported on said carriage frame in a back part of said apparatusrelative to the direction of movement.
 6. A bobbin tube loadingapparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said carriage frame includestwo fixed rolls at a front end and with two pivotably arranged rolls ata back end for rollably moving said carriage frame.
 7. A bobbin tubeloading apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holding meansincludes a guide rail guiding the lower face side of the tubes, saidguide rail extending from said horizontal drum along said chain towardssaid vertical drum and terminating shortly before said transferposition.
 8. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein said holding means includes a plurality of holding members eachattached to a transporting link, each said holding member being directedtowards on adjacent transporting link to hold a tube located in saidrecess of said transporting link while the tube is transported from thehorizontal position until reaching said vertical position and to releasethe tube upon reaching said vertical position at said transfer position.9. A bobbin tube loading apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein saidholding member is an elastic member.
 10. A bobbin tube holding apparatusas set forth in claim 1 which further comprises means for acceleratingthe tube transfer at said transfer position.
 11. A bobbin tube holdingapparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said accelerating means is aspring on said carriage disposed in the path of movement of the tubes insaid chain to be tensioned by each tube transported along under saidspring until the tube reaches said vertical position and to be releasedas the tube is transferred.
 12. A bobbin tube holding apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said carriage includes a handle for manualmovement.
 13. A bobbin tube holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1which further comprises a drive means for moving said carriage.
 14. Abobbin tube holding apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein saiddrive means is a gear motor positively engaged and driving said verticaldrum.
 15. The combination of at least one of a ring spinning machine anda ring twisting machine having an integral doffer and a take-up meansincluding a row of tube take-up pins, and a bobbin tube loadingapparatus for transferring tubes onto said pins; said bobbin tubeloading apparatus including a movable carriage; a chute on said carriagefor receiving a supply of bobbin tubes; tube transfer means mounted onsaid carriage for moving tubes from said chute to a transfer positionabove each respective pin of said machine, said means including ahorizontally disposed drum disposed under said chute, a verticallydisposed drum disposed adjacent said transfer position, and an endlesstransporting chain guided about said drums for taking up the tubes in ahorizontal position from said chute and for transporting the tubes intoa vertical position at said transfer position, said chain including aplurality of links each having a recess for receiving a tube; holdingmeans for preventing the tubes from sliding down from said recessesduring movement to said transfer position and for releasing the tubesfrom said recesses at said transfer position to drop over a respectiveone of said pins; and a gear operably connected with said drums, saidgear having a tooth gauge corresponding to the spacing of said pins andbeing disposed in meshing engagement with said Pins whereby uponmovement of said apparatus along said machine, said gear synchronizesthe operation of said drums and said chain with said movement to drop aseries of the bobbin tubes onto said pins.
 16. The combination as setforth in claim 15 which further comprises a drive mechanism between saidgear and at least one of said drums for rotating said one drum uponrotation of said gear.
 17. The combination as set forth in claim 15wherein said machine includes a guide rail extending along said take-upmeans and wherein said carriage includes a guide roll at a front end forguiding said front end horizontally along said rail and a guide roll ata back end rollably mounted on said guide rail to guide said back endhorizontally and vertically along said guide rail.
 18. The combinationas set forth in claim 17 wherein said carriage frame includes two fixedrolls at said front end disposed at an angle more than zero degrees andless than five degrees with said guide rail, and two pivotally arrangedrolls at said back end for rollably moving said carriage frame.